Cytomel severe side effects

[Rosewin]

Hello  I have had a total thyroidectomy 17 years ago.  I have been on 0.2 mg levothroxine  but recently my doc. added 25 mcg of cytomel.  My T3 levels went extremely high and TSH less then 0.5.    I have been extemely ill - headaches, chills, sweats, light head, dizzy, naseau, anxiety.  My doc has stopped the cytomel.  My questions are:
1.  How long does it take for the thryoid levels to return back to where they were.  And how long do these symptoms last.
2.  Was 25 mcg of cytomel a normal amount to add to 0.2 mg of levothroxine..  one other thing - the cytomel was added to increase the effectiveness of antidepressents.
Thank you

[Rosewin]

Sorry, I realize that my answer didn't make sense. Before starting the T3, my free T3 and T4 were within the targeted ranged for me (total thyroidectomy).  Within a few days of starting the cytomel (25 mcg) I didn't feel well.  It took 2 weeks before the docs figured out what was wrong with me - this is when the Blood work showed the T3 was extremely elevated.

The withdrawl symptoms are suppose to take 2-6 weeks.  Does that make any sense?  The symptoms are getting better but still have the nausea and lightheadedness.  I understand the half life of cytomel but don't understand why it takes so long to feel better.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks

[Barb135]

Are the T3 and T4, Free or Total?  What was the actual level of the T4?  It's very common for one to have levels in the normal range, but they aren't "O.K.".  

I really think you need to find another doctor.  As I said, and so did gimel - 25 mcg is not a small dose; and should not be given all at once.

I don't understand about the "symptoms and blood test for T3 would take 2-6 weeks".  Why?  

[Rosewin]

My family doc said it would be out of my system in 3-4 weeks but the syptoms and blood test for T3 would take 2-6 weeks.  It is really miserable.  The worst part in the prescribing doc. told me 25 mcg was an extremely low dose.

[gimel]

The half-life of T3 is less than a day, so this means that the Cytomel effect should be essentially  gone from blood levels in about 3-4 days.  I would have a lot of concern with any doctor that would add 25 mcg of Cytomel, all at once, to your dose of 200 mcg.  That is a huge increase that affects you in a very short time and it made you ill.  It was also done for the wrong reason, and clearly shows a lack of understanding about T3.  

You need to find a good thyroid doctor that will test and adjust your FT3 and FT4 levels with whatever type of medication is required to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important.  

[Rosewin]

My T3, T4, and TSH were are within range for a thyroidectomy.  When my doc. added 25 mcg of cytomel to my 0.2 levothroxine my levels went out of wack.
T4 was O.K.
T3 was around 11 (range is 3-5)
TSH was less than .05

Wondering how long it will take to get my levels back to normal for me.

[Barb135]

Cytomel is a T3 med, which is generally used when one does not properly convert the storage hormone T4 to the usable hormone T3.  As you have experienced, it can cause very serious symptoms if not needed.

The dosage/need for cytomel would be based on your FT3 levels.  Do you have lab results that you can post here, along with the reference ranges? These vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report. Labs from both, before and after the cytomel, would be great.

There is no "normal" amount to be added to a specific amount of levo; as stated above the dosage would be dependent on your FT3/FT4 labs.  Most of us are started out on a very small dose and increased as needed.  25 mcg is not a small dose.  

Did you take the whole 25 mcg cytomel all at once each day?  Cytomel is fast acting and is in and out of your system within a few hours.  It may still take a while for your FT3 levels to come back down.

I have never heard of using cytomel to increase the effectiveness of antidepressants.